At to zn ey



Sept. 19, 1967 R. 1.. SMITH 3,342,380

COMBINED SHAKER TOP AND POUR f-POUT CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS OF FINELYDIVIDED MATERIAL Filed May 25, 1966 2 SheetsSheet 1 J/IIIII'IIJVII I ATTO ZN EY Sept. 19, 1967 R. L. SMITH 3,342,380

COMBINED SHAKER TOP AND POUR SPOU'I CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS 0F PINELYDIVIDED MATERIAL Filed May 25, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet JJ I 52.5. 4/

AT TORNEY United States Patent 3,342,380 COMBINED SHAKER TOP AND POURSPOUT CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS OF FINELY DI- VIDED MATERIAL Richard L.Smith, 5707 S. Westnedge Ave., Kalamazoo, Mich. 49002 Filed May 25,1966, Ser. No. 552,897 10 Claims. (Cl. 222-189) This invention relatesto a combined shaker top and pour spout closure for containers of finelydivided material. The principal objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a reclosable combined shaker top and pour spoutclosure for containers for material such as table salt which willcombine a reclosable large opening and pour spout with a reclosableperforated shaker panel and cover therefor which may be formed andassembled as a single unit in the top of a salt box.

Second, to provide a combined reclosable pour spout and shaker topfitting which may be inexpensively molded as a single element andmounted in the cover of a container such as a salt box withoutprojecting materially above the cover of the salt box so that thecontainers may be stacked on store shelves.

Third, to provide a closure fixture for containers of finely divided orgranular material having a first closure which is easily opened toexpose a perforated shaker opening and a second closure which is formedin part by the wall forming the shaker opening which can be selectivelyopened to provide a larger sized opening and a flow directing pourspout.

Fourth, to provide a combined reclosable shaker top and pour spouthaving the foregoing properties, that can be alternatively manufacturedto fit in the flat wall of a container, or to engage perpendicular sidewalls of a container and act as an end closure therefor.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from aconsideration of the following description and claims. The drawings ofwhich there are two sheets illustrate two practical forms of the shakertop and pour spout fixture of the invention, and two adaptations thereoffit in a flat wall of a container, or as a closure engageable withperpendicular side walls of a container.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the bottom of a first form of the fixture as itmight be molded.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the plane of the line 22 inFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the combined shaker top and pour spoutassembly in erected operative position with both the pour spout openingand the shaker top closure in open position.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the assembled fixture with the openingsclosed as they would appear in a closed container.

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of a modified form of the combined pourspout and shaker top closure as the same might be molded.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along the plane of the line 66 inFIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken along the plane ofthe line 7.7 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the erected pour spout and shaker topclosure shown in FIG. 5 with the pour spout and shaker top closure inopen position.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the modified assembly in closed position asit would appear when installed in a closed container.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, enlarged cross sectional view taken along theplane of the line 1010 in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary, enlarged cross sectional view similar to aportion of FIG. 6, illustrating a modified ice alternative constructionadapted to be mounted on perpendicular side walls of a container, as aclosure for the container.

Containers or boxes for table salt have been provided with alternateopenings and alternate closures therefor to provide a relatively largeopening with a pour spout and a separate opening with a closure fixturehaving a perforate wall to function as a shaker top and a cover closableover the shaker opening. The present invention provides a single fixturewhich economically provides both the closable pour spout opening andclosable shaker top opening.

The example of the closure fixture shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 includes afirst or outer frame 1 having a peripheral groove 2 around its outeredge which is adapted to receive the edge of an opening formed in thetop of a salt box or similar container. The frame is capable of beingsnapped into the opening in the container and to this end the lowerflange 3 on the bottom of the frame is slightly smaller than the topflange 4 which overlies the wall of the container when the frame isinstalled therein. Note that FIGS. 1 and 2 show the frame in invertedposition so the flange 3 is uppermost. The frame illustrated istriangular in shape but this particular configuration is not essentialso long as the frame is provided with two relatively straight divergentsides 5 and 6. Connected to the top inner corner of the side member 5 asby an integral molded web 7 is the top outer side portion 8 of a secondor inner triangular frame indicated generally by the reference 9. Theinner frame 9 has a divergent side portion 10 arranged to fold withinthe side member 6 of the outer frame and the remaining side or sides ofthe inner frame fit closely within the corresponding sides of the outerframe. Integrally connected to the side member 10 as by the thinmembrane or hinge connection 11 is a generally triangular pour spoutside wall 12 which passes inwardly through the opening in the firstframe 1 and lies in inwardly projecting relation along the inner side ofthe side member 6 when the closure assembly is erected. The hinge ormembrane 11 is formed by oppositely beveling the adjacent edges of theside portions 5 and 8 as at 111 in FIG. 2. The entire closure assemblyis conveniently molded as an integral unit from a flexible plasticmaterial so that the pour spout side wall 12 can be bent or deformedsufliciently to pass through the opening within the outer frame in theassembly of the fixture. The pour spout side wall desirably carries aperpendicular flange 13 along one edge which is adapted to overlie andmove into a shallow groove 14 formed in the lower inside corner of theside 6 of the outer frame when the pour spout is open as will bedescribed. The other edge of the pour spout side wall has an arcuateportion 15 sized to swing in frictional engagement with the juncturebetween the side 6 of the outer frame and the adjacent side of the outerframe which in the example illustrated is formed by a third side 16 ofthe triangular frame. A stop lug or ear 17 may be provided on the cornerof the pour spout side wall to limit outward opening motion of the pourspout.

The second or inner frame 9 has an integral wall 18 extending across itsinner side and provided with a plurality of apertures or holes 19 toform a shaker top opening in the fixture. The inner frame 9 is sized tofit in yieldable gripping engagement within the inner edges of the firstframe 1 so that the holes 19 can be used as shaker openings when thepour spout wall is in closed position. To further close the shakeropenings 19 and prevent the entrance of dirt and moisture into the container the inner frame 9 is provided with an integral laterallyprojecting web 20 of flexible plastic extending from one side portion 21of the inner frame. The web 20 forms a flexible hinge connection to oneside of a closure plate or wall 22. The imperforate closure 22 is shapedto fit within the inner portion of the inner frame 9 and to befrictionally retained in closed position as by lugs 122 in a manner wellknown in the formation of shaker top closures for salt boxes.

In order to permit convenient and selective opening of either the shakertop panel 18 or the pour spout, the imperforate closure 22 is providedwith an integral projecting lug or ear 23 that is desirably long enoughto overlie both the inner frame 9 and the outer frame 1 when the fixtureis assembled and closed. The inner frame 9 is provided with a projectinglug or ear 24 secured to one of the swinging sides of the inner frameand also adapted to overlie the outer frame when the assembly is closedas shown in FIG. 4 so that either the pour spout consisting of the innerframe 9 and the pour spout side wall 12 or the shaker top closure 22 maybe opened. Normally the imperforate closure 22 will be left closedwithin the inner frame 9 to close the holes 19 when the pour spout isopened and in use. The edge of the pour spout side wall 12 adjacent tothe hinge connection 7 is concavely curved to slide in closingengagement about the juncture of sides and 6 of the outer frame as thepour spout is opened. This prevents leakage at the base of the spout,see 115.

The modified form of the shaker top and pour spout assembly shown inFIGS. 5 through is essentially the same as the first form described butmay be preferred in some respects in that it is more easily molded as anintegral element. The modified assembly comprises an outer or firstframe 25 of triangular shape having two generally straight and divergentside members 26 and 27 and a third side 28 completing the frame. Theperiphery of the frame has a groove 29 formed therearound to receive theedge of an opening in a container and the inner edges of the first frameare downwardly and outwardly divergent as at 30 to facilitate snapengagement with the shaker top closure to be described.

Integrally connected to the upper and outer corner of the side member 27as by the thin hinge connection or membrane 31 is a flap 48 having itsopposite edge connected to one side of an upper or second frameindicated generally by the reference numeral 32. The frame 32 ismatching in shape to the inside of the frame 25 and the flap 48 is sizedto overlie the top of the side member 27 of the outer frame 25 when theassembly is erected. The inner edges of the frame 32 are downwardlyoffset, triangularly arranged walls 33 with a cross wall 34 connectingtheir inner edges. The wall 34 is provided with a plurality of holes oropenings 35 to act as shaker openings when the inner frame is closed inthe outer or first frame.

Connected to the lower or inner edge of one side wall 33 of the secondframe as by the thin membrane or hinge connection 36 is a pour spoutside wall 37 of essentially the same shape and function as the wall 12in the first form of the assembly. The side wall 37 has an upstandingflange 38 adapted to underlie and rest against the recess 39 in theunderside of the side member 26 of the first frame when the pour spoutis opened. The side wall may also have a motion limiting lug 40 to limitthe open position of the pour spout. To frictionally retain the secondframe 32 and the side walls 33 thereof within the opening of the firstframe, one side wall 33 may have a projecting lug 41 formed thereon toengage under the beveled inner edge 30 of the first frame.

Connected to the upper and outer edge of one side of the second frame 32as by the folding connection 42, formed by beveling the integrallyconnected parts, is one side of the shaker top closure panel 44. Theclosure panel is folded into the recess between the side walls 33 of thesecond frame and may be frictionally retained therein by projecting lugs45. The imperforate closure panel 44 is desirably provided with an earor lug 46 extending from one swinging edge thereof to facilitate openingof the closure for the shaker top. In order to facilitate opening of thepour spout, one of the sides of the second frame 32 is provided with anexterior fingernail receiving groove 47 near its upper edge. The grooveis exposed by a half round recess 51 in the adjacent upper-inner edge ofthe outer frame when the assembly is closed. As will be apparent thesecond form of the pour spout and shaker top assembly and closure shownin FIGS. 5 to 9 functions in the same way as the first form illustrated.

The side walls 33 of the inner frame 32 are frictionally retainedbetween the adjacent sides 26 and 27 of the outer frame 25 (with thepour spout side wall 37 projecting below the adjacent side of the innerframe), so when the pour spout consisting of the inwardly projectingwall 37 and the wall 34 across the inner side of the inner frame 32 isopened, the hinged section formed by the groove 49 in the flap 48 tendsto remain close to side 27 of the outer frame. However, to resist anytendency of the horizontal or flap portion 48 on the hinged side of theinner frame from pulling away from the surface of side 27 of the outerframe and creating a undesired opening at the base of the pour spout,the side 27 and flap 48 connecting the two frames may be securedtogether after molding, base of the pour spout, the side 27 and flap 48connectmay be by mechanical staples such as at 50 in FIG. 9, or byadhesive or bonding (not illustrated) between the lapped surfaces.

The modified form of the spout and closure assembly in FIGS. 5 to 10 hasthe advantage over the form shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 that all majorportions of the assembly may be formed in a completely open faced mold.No reentrant edges or projections are needed, except for the minor moldedges that form the peripheral groove 29, the lugs 41 and 45 and thefingernail groove 47.

While the two forms illustrated in detail are triangular in overalloutline, this is not an essential limitation. FIG. 11 shows how an outerframe 52 may be provided with a downturned flange 53 on its peripherywith a receiving notch 54 in its lower edge adapted to receive the edgeof a container presented perpendicularly to the shaker top and pourspout assembly. Either of the assemblies illustrated may thus be formedto act as a complete end closure for a container. The contour of thecontainer and the closure assembly is not dependent on the shape of thesurrounded pour spout openings 55.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A combined shaker top and pour spout closure for containers of finelydivided material comprising,

a first frame having a peripheral edge adapted to engage the edge of acontainer wall defining an opening, said frame defining a pouringopening having at least two intersecting and diverging sides,

a second frame sized to fit in mating engagement with the sides of saidfirst frame,

a first hinge connection between one side of said second frame and oneof said intersecting sides of said first frame and integral with saidframes,

an integral wall closing the area within said second frame and defininga plurality of spaced shaker openings,

a spout side Wall integrally connected by a second hinge connection to asecond side of said second frame and extending in a plane generallyperpendicular to the plane of said second frame through said opening insaid first frame and along the other of said intersecting sides of saidfirst frame,

an imperforate closure engageable with said second frame in closingrelation over said shaker openings,

and a third hinge connection connecting an edge of said closure to anedge of said second frame and integral therewith.

2. A closure as defined in claim 1 in which said second frame fitswithin said first frame with said integral wall located on the innerside of said second frame, and said imperforate closure fits inyieldable retained engagement within said second frame.

3. A closure as defined in claim 2 in which said imperforate closure hasan integral tab on a swinging edge thereof overlying said second frame,and another tab formed integrally on a swinging edge of said secondframe overlying said first frame.

4. A closure as defined in claim 3 in which said frames and saidimperforate closure are triangular, and said spout side wall has an edgefrictionally engageahle with the juncture of two sides of said firstframe in the open position of said second frame and said spout sidewall.

5. A closure as defined in claim 3 in which said spout side wall and theadjacent side of said first frame have laterally overlapping projectionsengageable in the open position of said spout side wall.

6. A closure as defined in claim 1 in which the peripheral edge of saidfirst frame has a laterally opening groove formed therein to receive theedge of an opening in a container wall.

7. A closure as defined in claim 1 in which said first hinge connectionis formed along the outer and upper edges of said frames and includes aflap connected between the frame sides with spaced folding sectionsalong the outer edges of adjacent sides of the two frames.

8. A closure as defined in claim 7 in which said flap overlies saidouter frame and is secured thereto between said spaced folding sections.

9. A closure as defined in claim 1 in which said first hinge connectionis formed along the inner edge of one side of the first frame and alongthe outer edge of the adjacent side of the inner frame.

10. A closure as defined in claim 1 in which said peripheral edge ofsaid first frame is shaped to engage the edge of a container Walldisposed normally to the plane of said first frame.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 830,694 9/1906 Whitney 2225322,753,051 7/1956 Tupper 222-189 X 3,016,168 1/1962 Larson 222-543 X3,018,024 1/1962 Foord 222-543 X 3,185,359 5/1965 Buntic 222532 X ROBERTB. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

F R. HANDREN, Assistant Examiner.

1. A COMBINED SHAKER TOP AND POUR SPOUT CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS OF FINELYDIVIDED MATERIAL COMPRISING, A FIRST FRAME HAVING A PERIPHERAL EDGEADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE EDGE OF A CONTAINER WALL DEFINING AN OPENING, SAIDFRAME DEFINING A POURING OPENING HAVING AT LEAST TWO INTERSECTING ANDDIVERGING SIDES, A SECOND FRAME SIZED TO FIT IN MATING ENGAGEMENT WITHTHE SIDES OF SAID FIRST FRAME, A FIRST HINGE CONNECTION BETWEEN ONE SIDEOF SAID SECOND FRAME AND INTEGRAL WITH SAID FRAMES, SAID FIRST FRAME ANDINTEGRAL WITH SAID FRAMES, AN INTEGRAL WALL CLOSING THE AREA WITHIN SAIDSECOND FRAME AND DEFINING A PLURALITY OF SPACED SHAKER OPENINGS, A SPOUTSIDE WALL INTEGRALLY CONNECTED BY A SECOND HINGE CONNECTION TO A SECONDSIDE OF SAID SECOND FRAME AND EXTENDING IN A PLANE GENERALLYPERPENDICULAR TO THE PLANE OF SAID SECOND FRAME THROUGH SAID OPENING INSAID FIRST FRAME AND ALONG THE OTHER OF SAID INTERSECTING SIDES OF SAIDFIRST FRAME, AN IMPERFORATE CLOSURE ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID SECOND FRAME INCLOSING RELATION OVER SAID SHAKER PENINGS, AND A THIRD HINGE CONNECTIONCONNECTING AN EDGE OF SAID CLOSURE TO AN EDGE OF SAID SECOND FRAME ANDINTEGRAL THEREWITH.